Pump or the like



\A. 0. PRICE mm on THE LIKE May 31, 1949.

2 Sneaks-Sheet 1 Filed April 27'. 1946 May 31, 1949. A. 0. PRICE PUMP OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed April 27, l946 INVENMR, J/berfi 0.37576 1m MM Arms? Patented May 31, 1949 PUMP OR THE LIKE Albert 0. Price, Leesville, Ohio, assignor ofoiie- Ohio half to Vincent Palumbo, Clevelandfle'ights Application April '21, 1946, Serial No. stain Claims. 1

This invention relates to iiuid impellers, pumps, or the like, especially to fluid pumps having a combined centrifugal and suction action.

A general object of this invention is to provide a durable, efiicient pump using both a centrifugal and a suction pumping action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy construction having a minimum of functional parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stationary distributor head, desirably starshaped, that is straddled by the rotor blades.

(o1. ins- 193) Another object of the invention is to deliver the incoming fluid as near as possible to the zone of the blades action and to distribute it throughout the circumference thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a distributor head having peripheral suction pockets through the trailing surfaces of which, relative to the direction of blade movement, the fluid inlet ports open.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, easily assembled construction.

The foregoing, and other objects of the invention which will become apparent as the specifica tion proceeds, are realized by the provision of apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through a pump embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line -2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rotor used in the pump;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

- Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the distributor head, and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation thereof.

In general, the disclosed structure, which is to be taken as illustrative rather than as limiting, includes a distributor head having at least a peak and a valley formed on its periphery, constituting what has been referred to as a suction pocket; an inlet; means connecting the inlet to the distributor head which has at least one port-opening through the so-called trailing surface of a suction pocket, and rotor blades mounted to travel in rapid succession in close proximity to and past the pocket so that the blades not only drive fluid through the pump'by their forward faces but also draw fluid out of the pocket by suction created by the rear faces of "the blades.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a pump Ill which includes an opensided casing N that is completed to form achanib'er' 12 by a'c'a'sing-pl'ate I3 which is removably secured to the casing I l. Note that the casing" l I has diametrically opposed outlets l 4 and that the interiorsurfaee of the" peri heral wall of the chamber [2 is eccentric or spiral between said parts." The casing ll may have foot brackets l5 formed integ ally therewith for mounting the structure.

' An imp frtant feature of the invention resides in the provision of a. substantially star-shaped, disc-like distributor head Hi which is stationaiily positioned in the'chaniber' [-2 and has a tubular boss I1 extending from" one side thereof. The distributor head i6, accordingto the invention, must have a number of suction pockets, shown as defined bypeaks formed on its periphery and preferably the head is symmetrically formed, but it need not have peripheral suction pockets or notches, of the exact shape shown, in all cases. Fluid conduits, or port's l8 are iormed in the distributor head 16 and extend substantially tangentially from the bore of the ,boss H, or considering the head a a whole, in aslightly rearwardly inclined, radial directiomwith relation to the direction rotation of the pumps rotor,- as pointed out here-matter.

The ports l8 all openth-rough corresponding sides of the points on theIheadwith one edge of each of the ports extending substantially to the tip of the point. Ilhe-looss H has a shoulder I9 on its periphery that Seats on: the casing plate 13, while a nut 24 :engag'eswith a thread onthe boss H for retaining :the'distributor head l6 and the casing plate I3 iii-fixed relation. If necessary, suitable packing "(not may be positioned between the"casing plate 1-3 and boss IT, or between'plate', boss-and lock nut; An inlet pipe 22 is communicatively connected 'to the boss -I 1 by :a standard :L- fitting 123'.

As shownin .1,v the'distifiibutor head it is centrally positioned inthe chamber, and a rotor 24-, consisting of a plurality of segmental sections--des-irably twe -is assembled around the head 16 with" each section having substantially U-shaped blades 25- that straddle the distributor head l6. 'Ilhe -blades'jfi .are-gformed from sheet material .andii incl de ideporti-ons 26 and transverse end portion 2 ,,,.the side portions 26 being anchored, inany nown manner, as by brazing, in slots roamed intiie-eug'esibf sectional hubs 2s and 29'. These and 29 are ring-like in shape and are iournaied O'Il" cylindrical surfaces of the di'stributorflread l6. It -w'i'1'1 be noted that the side portions "26 of the blades 2T5 extend' radially inwardlyon oth idesjofthe'distributorhead i-6' to the depth of the peripheral suction pockets of the distributor head. The direction of rotation of the rotor 24 is indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2, and as seen in that view the side and end portions 26 and 21 are rearwardly inclined from the edge portions thereof that are immediately adjacent the distributor head. While said portions 26 and 27 are shown as straight from edge to edge, they may be curved, if desired, and their angle and direction of inclination may vary, or they may lie in radial planes. The present preferred direction of inclination, however, is as illustrated. Since the blades 25 fit closely around the distributor head and have minimum clearance in the chamber l2, each time a blade passes one of the peripheral pockets of the head, a suction is created therein that draws fluid through the ports I8. By the centrifugal action of the blades, the fluid is hurled outwardly and about the spiral portions of the chamber 12 to the outlet ports l4.

The portions of maximum thickness of the peripheral wall of the casing adjacent the outlet ports, are given a formation, as indicated at 3|, that directs fluid into the outlet ports with a minimum of fluid turbulence. Flow of fluid through the pump is also facilitated greatly by the fact that the aggregate cross sectional area of the ports [8 approximates that of the central inlet passage of the pump. Also, by the arrangement of said ports 18, the liquid is conveyed to the very zone of the blade action and is distributed throughout the circumference thereof.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each hub 28 and 29 is split diametrically, and a lock nut 32 is engaged with a threaded area on the sections of the hub 28 (Fig. 1) to secure said sections together. A set screw 33 may be provided to retain the nut 32 fixed on the hub 28. The hub 29 is journaled on a solid boss 34 formed on the distributor head [6 on the side thereof opposite the tubular boss I! and the sections of the hub 29 are secured, by screws '35, to an annular flange 40 formed on the end of a drive shaft 36. The flange All is reamed out so that the heads of the screws 35 are flushwith its outer surface. The drive shaft is shown as tubular on its inner end, to reduce its weight, and as having a solid portion that extends beyond the casing H. A suitable driving member 31, shown as a pulley, is keyed to sleeve 38 which, in turn, is keyed to the drive shaft 35. By this means, the pump may be motor driven by a belt, not shown.

The casing H is sealed in any conventional manner and it is shown as fitted with a flanged bearing 39 received in a hollow boss 4| formed integrally with the casing H, the flange of said bearing 39 seating on a shoulder 42 formed at the inner end of the boss. A nut 43 threadedly engages the bearing 39 by means of which the bearing flange is drawn up against the shoulder 42 to secure the bearing to the housing. A conventional packing gland 44 is incorporated in the bearing 39 to seal the joint between it and the shaft 36 when a gland nut 45 is drawn up within the threaded recess of the bearing.

Figs. 3 and 4 bring out the sturdy construction of the rotor 24 and the multiple, closely spaced blades 25 thereof which blades, in cooperation with the design of distributor head "5, shown in detail in Figs. and 6, contribute largely to the efficiency of the pump. A very important feature of the invention is the arrangement of the inlet ports by which the incoming fluid is delivered in close proximity to the orbit of the .4 blades and is distributed throughout the entire circumference thereof.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that an inexpensive, durable, efficient pump is provided through which the objects of the invention are realized.

Whi1e in accordance with the patent statutes, one embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described, it should be clearly understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, or thereby, but is defined in the appended claims. For example, any structure affording the feature of port and blade arrangement and cooperation above described, falls within the purview of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A pump or the like comprising a casing having a substantially annular chamber therein and having an outlet formed in its periphery, a disclike distributor head stationarily positioned centrally within said casing and having peripheral suction pockets, said distributor head having a chamber formed therein for receipt of fluid input and having ports leading from the chamber to said pockets, and a rotor journaled on said distributor head, said rotor carrying a plurality of substantially U-shaped blades that straddle said distributor head in immediate relationship to the periphery thereof.

2. A pump or the like as defined by claim 1, wherein said blades are inclined rear-wardly and outwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the rotor.

3. A pump comprising a casing having a substantially annular chamber therein and having diametrically opposed outlets formed in its periphery, said casing being slightly eccentric to increase the chamber size gradually adjacent the forward side of each of said outlets, a substantially star-shaped disc-like distributor head stationarily positioned within said casing, said distributor head having a tubular boss extending from one side thereof with the bore thereof connecting to substantially radially positioned ports leading therefrom to the trailing sides of the points of the head immediately adjacent the periphery thereof, a rotor journaled on said distributor head, means for driving said rotor, and a plurality of substantially U-shaped blades incorporated in said rotor and adapted to straddle said distributor head in immediate relationship to the sides and points of said distributor head.

4. A pump or the like as defined by claim 3, wherein the side and end portions of said U-shaped blades are inclined rearwardly and outwardly relative to the direction of travel of the blades.

5. A pump or the like comprising a casing having a substantially annular chamber therein, outlet means associated with the periphery of said casing, a substantially star-shaped distributor head stationarily positioned centrally within said casing, said distributorlhead having an annular chamber formed therein for receipt of fluid input and having ports leading from the chamber to the periphery of the head immediately adjacent the points thereof, and a rotor journaled on said distributor head, said rotor carrying a plurality of substantially U-shaped blades that straddle said distributor head in immediate relationship to the sides and points of said distributor head and in close relationship to the sides of the casing.

6. A pump or the like comprising a casing havnected to the tubular boss of said distributor head, a rotor journaled on said distributor head, means for driving said rotor, and a plurality of substantially U-shaped blades incorporated in said rotor that straddle said distributor head in immediate relationship to the sides and points of said head.

7. In a pump, a distributor head characterized by peripheral suction pockets, said pockets being defined by circumierentially spaced peaks, the head having an inlet and ports leading therefrom to the trailing edges of said peaks, and substantially U-shaped rotor blades mounted to straddle said distributor head for rotation in close proximity to and past said peaks, the side portions of said blades extending radially inwardly substantially the depth of said pockets.

8. In a pump, a symmetrical, disc-shaped, peaked distributor head; said distributor head having inlet ports formed therein leading to the trailing edges of its peaks; and substantially U-shaped blades mounted to straddle said distributor head for rotation in close proximity to and past the peaks of said distributor, said blades having planar side and end races that are rearwardly inclined from the edges thereof immediately adjacent said distributor head.

9. A structure comprising a casing having apertured end walls and enclosing a substantially annular chamber, and two relatively rotatable elements occupying said chamber, each provided with an axial extension that projects through the aperture of one of the end walls, one of said elements consisting of a body having circumferentially spaced peripheral pockets and fluid supply ducts opening thereinto, and the other including substantially U-shaped blades straddling the peripheral portion of said body.

10. In combination, two relatively rotatable elements, one consisting of a body having circumferentially spaced peripheral pockets and fluid supply ducts opening thereinto, and the other characterized by substantially U-shaped blades straddling the peripheral portion of said body, each element being provided with an axial extension substantially aligned with that of the other.

ALBERT 0. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 513,057 Poole Jan. 16, 1894 557,300 Barber Mar. 31, 1896 590,247 Valley Sept. 21, 1897 823,210 Fletcher June 12, 1906 1,860,068 Bassler May 24, 1932 1,942,608 Ljungstrom Jan. 9, 1934 1,988,875 Sabario Jan. 22, 1935 2,021,289 Caylor Nov. 19, 1935 2,108,841 Baker Feb. 22, 1938 

